Pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly

ABSTRACT

A pressure tank includes a tank body, and a connector. The tank body is formed with a through hole. The connector is integrally formed by a stainless steel material, and includes a threaded section, a soldering section, and a press section. The press section of the connector is passed through the through hole of tank body, and is riveted and secured on an inner side of the tank body. The press section of the connector includes a support portion, and a rivet press portion and having a wall thickness smaller than that of the support portion.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present invention is a continuation-in-part application of the co-pending U.S. Ser. No. 09/663,141, filed on Sep. 15, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a pressure tank, and more particularly to a pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] A conventional pressure tank comprises a container containing purified water therein, and a connector mounted on a top of the container and connected to a water pipe for input and output of the purified water. The connector includes a hollow threaded head soldered on the top of the container and screwed into a connecting nut of the water pipe, a copper tube having an upper portion secured in the threaded head and a lower portion riveted on an inner side of the top of the container, and a leakproof ring mounted between the inner side of the top of the container and the lower portion of the copper tube.

[0006] However, when the copper tube is wet, it easily produces verdigris that will do damage to the human body. In addition, the threaded head of the connector cannot be soldered on the top of the container easily and conveniently, thereby causing inconvenience to the operator. Further, the copper tube has a constant wall thickness, so that when the leakproof ring is mounted on the lower portion of the copper tube and the copper tube is riveted to press the leakproof ring during the riveting process, the lower portion of the copper tube is easily deviated due to an uneven pressure distribution, so that the leakproof ring is easily detached from the lower portion of the copper tube during the riveting process, thereby causing a water leakage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantage of the conventional pressure tank.

[0008] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly, wherein the connector is integrally formed by a stainless steel material, so that the connector will not do damage to the user when the water is filled into the tank body through the connector.

[0009] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly, wherein the soldering section of the connector is made with a cylindrical shape, so that the soldering section of the connector may be soldered on the upper barrel of the tank body rapidly by an automatic spot welder, thereby saving the working time and manual work.

[0010] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly, wherein the rivet press portion of the press section of the connector has a wall thickness smaller than that of the support portion of the press section of the connector. Thus, the support portion of the press section of the connector may function as a support to bear a larger pressure without deformation, and the rivet press portion of the press section of the connector may be deformed and pressed easily during the rivet press process, so that the leakproof ring may be pressed by the deformed rivet press portion of the press section of the connector, and may be secured in the recess of the lug of the inner barrel.

[0011] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly, wherein the recess of the lug of the inner barrel may provide a positioning effect to the leakproof ring, thereby preventing the leakproof ring from detaching from the rivet press portion of the press section of the connector during the rivet and press process.

[0012] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly, wherein after the rivet and press process, the leakproof ring is tightly and closely mounted between the recess of the lug of the inner barrel and the rivet press portion of the press section of the connector, thereby providing a better leakproof effect.

[0013] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly, comprising: a tank body, and a connector, wherein:

[0014] the tank body is formed with a through hole;

[0015] the connector is integrally formed by a stainless steel material, and includes a threaded section, a soldering section, and a press section;

[0016] the threaded section of the connector is connected to a water pipe;

[0017] the soldering section of the connector is mounted on a lower portion of the threaded section of the connector, and has a cylindrical shape, so that the soldering section of the connector may be soldered on the tank body rapidly; and

[0018] the press section of the connector is mounted on a lower portion of the soldering section of the connector, and is passed through the through hole of tank body, the press section of the connector is riveted and secured on an inner side of the tank body, the press section of the connector includes a support portion mounted on the lower portion of the soldering section of the connector, and a rivet press portion mounted on a lower portion of the support portion.

[0019] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020]FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away perspective view of a pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 2 is a perspective assembly view of a connector of the pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away front plan cross-sectional view of the pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly as shown in FIG. 1; and

[0023]FIG. 4 is a schematic operational view of the pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly as shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention may be used for a reverse osmosis filter, and comprises a tank body 1, and a connector 2.

[0025] The tank body 1 includes an upper barrel 10, an inner barrel 11, a washer 12, an inflation diaphragm 13, a press ring 14, and a lower barrel 15.

[0026] The upper barrel 10 is formed with a through hole 100.

[0027] The inner barrel 11 is mounted in an inner side of the upper barrel 10, and is formed with a through hole 110 aligning with the through hole 100 of the upper barrel 10. The through hole 110 of the inner barrel 11 has an inner side provided with a lug 111 which is formed with a recess 112 which is communicated with the through hole 110 of the inner barrel 11.

[0028] The washer 12 is mounted between the upper barrel 10 and the inner barrel 11.

[0029] The inflation diaphragm 13 is mounted on an inner side of the inner barrel 11, and a water storage space is formed between the inflation diaphragm 13 and the inner barrel 11, for pressing the water outward.

[0030] The press ring 14 is mounted on a bottom edge of the inflation diaphragm 13, for securing the bottom edge of the inflation diaphragm 13 on the inner barrel 11.

[0031] The lower barrel 15 has a top edge secured with a bottom edge of the upper barrel 10, so that the lower barrel 15 may be combined with the upper barrel 10 to form a closed tank. An air inflation space is formed between the inflation diaphragm 13 and the lower barrel 15. The lower barrel 15 has a bottom edge provided with an air inflation nozzle 150 for filling the gas.

[0032] The connector 2 is integrally formed by a stainless steel material, and includes a threaded section 20, a soldering section 21, and a press section 22.

[0033] The threaded section 20 of the connector 2 is provided, so that a connecting nut 30 of a water pipe 3 may be screwed on the threaded section 20 of the connector 2 rapidly.

[0034] The soldering section 21 of the connector 2 is mounted on a lower portion of the threaded section 20 of the connector 2, and has a cylindrical shape, so that the soldering section 21 of the connector 2 may be soldered on the upper barrel 10 of the tank body 1 rapidly by an automatic spot welder.

[0035] The press section 22 of the connector 2 is mounted on a lower portion of the soldering section 21 of the connector 2, and is passed through the through hole 100 of the upper barrel 10, the washer 12, and the through hole 110 of the inner barrel 11. The press section 22 of the connector 2 may then be pressed in a riveting manner, thereby securing the inner barrel 11 and the washer 12 on the upper barrel 10.

[0036] The press section 22 of the connector 2 includes a support portion 220 mounted on the lower portion of the soldering section 21 of the connector 2, and a rivet press portion 221 mounted on a lower portion of the support portion 220.

[0037] The rivet press portion 221 of the press section 22 of the connector 2 has a wall thickness smaller than that of the support portion 220 of the press section 22 of the connector 2. Thus, the support portion 220 of the press section 22 of the connector 2 may function as a support, and the rivet press portion 221 of the press section 22 of the connector 2 may be deformed and pressed easily during the rivet press process.

[0038] The connector 20 further includes a leakproof ring 23 mounted on the support portion 220 of the press section 22 of the connector 2 and received in the recess 112 of the lug 111 of the inner barrel 11. Thus, when the rivet press portion 221 of the press section 22 of the connector 2 is deformed and pressed during the rivet press process, the leakproof ring 23 may be pressed by the rivet press portion 221 of the press section 22 of the connector 2, and may be secured in the recess 112 of the lug 111 of the inner barrel 11 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0039] Preferably, the support portion 220 and the rivet press portion 221 of the press section 22 of the connector 2 has a connection located at a central position of the leakproof ring 23.

[0040] In practice, when the user wishes to drink water, a switch (not shown) may be depressed to introduce the air into the tank body 1 of the pressure tank through the air inflation nozzle 150, thereby pressurizing the inflation diaphragm 13, so that the water contained in the tank body 1 of the pressure tank may be conveyed outward through the connector 2 and the water pipe 3 by the pressure of the inflation diaphragm 13.

[0041] Accordingly, the pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention has the following advantages.

[0042] 1. The connector 2 is integrally formed by a stainless steel material, so that the connector 2 will not do damage to the user when the water is filled into the tank body 1 through the connector 2.

[0043] 2. The soldering section 21 of the connector 2 is made with a cylindrical shape, so that the soldering section 21 of the connector 2 may be soldered on the upper barrel 10 of the tank body 1 rapidly by an automatic spot welder, thereby saving the working time and manual work.

[0044] 3. The rivet press portion 221 of the press section 22 of the connector 2 has a wall thickness smaller than that of the support portion 220 of the press section 22 of the connector 2. Thus, the support portion 220 of the press section 22 of the connector 2 may function as a support to bear a larger pressure without deformation, and the rivet press portion 221 of the press section 22 of the connector 2 may be deformed and pressed easily during the rivet press process, so that the leakproof ring 23 may be pressed by the deformed rivet press portion 221 of the press section 22 of the connector 2, and may be secured in the recess 112 of the lug 111 of the inner barrel 11 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0045] 4. The recess 112 of the lug 111 of the inner barrel 11 may provide a positioning effect to the leakproof ring 23, thereby preventing the leakproof ring 23 from detaching from the rivet press portion 221 of the press section 22 of the connector 2 during the rivet and press process.

[0046] 5. After the rivet and press process, the leakproof ring 23 is tightly and closely mounted between the recess 112 of the lug 111 of the inner barrel 11 and the rivet press portion 221 of the press section 22 of the connector 2, thereby providing a better leakproof effect.

[0047] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly, comprising: a tank body, and a connector, wherein: the tank body is formed with a through hole; the connector is integrally formed by a stainless steel material, and includes a threaded section, a soldering section, and a press section; the threaded section of the connector is connected to a water pipe; the soldering section of the connector is mounted on a lower portion of the threaded section of the connector, and has a cylindrical shape, so that the soldering section of the connector may be soldered on the tank body rapidly; and the press section of the connector is mounted on a lower portion of the soldering section of the connector, and is passed through the through hole of tank body, the press section of the connector is riveted and secured on an inner side of the tank body, the press section of the connector includes a support portion mounted on the lower portion of the soldering section of the connector, and a rivet press portion mounted on a lower portion of the support portion.
 2. The pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rivet press portion of the press section of the connector has a wall thickness smaller than that of the support portion of the press section of the connector, so that the support portion of the press section of the connector may function as a support, and the rivet press portion of the press section of the connector may be deformed and pressed easily during a rivet press process.
 3. The pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connector further includes a leakproof ring mounted on the support portion of the press section of the connector and received in an inner side of the tank body, and the leakproof ring is pressed by the rivet press portion of the press section of the connector.
 4. The pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the support portion and the rivet press portion of the press section of the connector has a connection located at a central position of the leakproof ring.
 5. The pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tank body includes an upper barrel, an inner barrel, a washer, an inflation diaphragm, a press ring, and a lower barrel, wherein: the upper barrel is formed with a through hole for passage of the connector; the inner barrel is mounted in an inner side of the upper barrel, and is formed with a through hole aligning with the through hole of the upper barrel, the through hole of the inner barrel has an inner side provided with a lug which is formed with a recess for receiving the leakproof ring; the washer is mounted between the upper barrel and the inner barrel; the inflation diaphragm is mounted on an inner side of the inner barrel, and a water storage space is formed between the inflation diaphragm and the inner barrel; the press ring is mounted on a bottom edge of the inflation diaphragm, for securing the bottom edge of the inflation diaphragm on the inner barrel; and the lower barrel has a top edge secured with a bottom edge of the upper barrel, so that the lower barrel may be combined with the upper barrel to form a closed tank, an air inflation space is formed between the inflation diaphragm and the lower barrel.
 6. The pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly in accordance with claim 5, wherein the lower barrel has a bottom edge provided with an air inflation nozzle for filling a gas.
 7. The pressure tank having a connector that may be assembled rapidly and tightly in accordance with claim 5, wherein the press section of the connector is passed through the through hole of the upper barrel, the washer, and the through hole of the inner barrel, and is pressed in a riveting manner, thereby securing the inner barrel and the washer on the upper barrel. 